Number 5 (Solution 1)

In the accompanying figure (called an arithmogon), the number that appears in a square is
the sum of the numbers in the circles on each side of it. Determine what numbers belong in the
circles.

Understand the Problem

- The number that appears in a square is the sum of the numbers in the circles on each
side of it.
- Each circle can be used to get the sum of two different squares

- Find the right number of each circle wherein their sum corresponds to the numbers
inside the squares.
Devise a Plan
- Using Algebra is one way to solve the problem.
- Use variables to represent each numbers inside the circles and squares.

a+b= =a+c

b c
b+c=
 - We know that the numbers in squares are the sum of the two circles on each side,
therefore,
a + b = 41
a + c = 49
b + c = 36
- Then, we can equate the two similar variables such that (a + b) + (a + c) = 2a + b + c,
applying the associative property of addition.
Carry out the Plan
Using the formed equation, let us find the values of each circles namely, a, b, and c.
- Find circle a
(a + b) + (a + c) = 2a + b + c
(a + a) + (b + c) = 2a + b + c = 27
(2a) + (b + c) = 2a + b + c – b – c
(2a + b + c) + (-b - c) = 2a
(a + b) + (a + c) - (b + c) = 2a
Substitute the numbers from squares
(41) + (49) - (36) = 2a
1 1
( ) 54 = 2a ( )
2 2
27 = a
- Find circle b, because we already have the value of a, just substitute it to get the
value of b.
a + b = 41 = 27
a = 27
Substitute the value of a
27 + b = 41
-27 + 27 + b = 41 – 27
b = 14
14 =

- Find circle c, because we already have the value of a, just substitute it to get the value
of c.
a + c = 49 = 27
a = 27
Substitute the value of a
27 + c = 49
-27 + 27 + c = 49 – 27
c = 22 = 22
14 =
 - Check if the values are correct
a = 27
b = 14 a
c = 22
a + b = 41
27 + 14 = 41
41 = 41 c
b
a + c = 49
27 + 22 = 49
49 = 49

b + c = 36
14 + 22 = 36
36 = 36

Look Back and Reflect

The totals in the squares are double the totals in the circles. I think this is because each
circle number is used twice to solve the puzzle.
a + b + c = 27 + 14 + 22 = 63
41 + 49 + 36 = 126
2 (a + b + c) = 41 + 49 + 36
2 (27 + 14 + 22) = 41 + 49 + 36
2 (63) = 126
126 = 126
If the numbers in the squares are all even, the numbers in the circles are either all odd or
all even. If the numbers in the squares are all odd, I cannot solve the puzzle with whole numbers.
This is because an even number minus an odd number equals an odd number.
If you have two odd and one even in the squares then the numbers in the circles are
either two odd and one even or two even and one odd.

27 Red: even numbers

Blue: odd numbers
Numbers in circles: 27, 22, 14 (1 odd, 2 even)
Numbers in squares: 41, 49, 36 (2 odds, 1 even)

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Number 5 (Solution 2)
In the accompanying figure (called an arithmogon), the number that appears in a square is
the sum of the numbers in the circles on each side of it. Determine what numbers belong in the
circles.

Understand the Problem

- The number that appears in a square is the sum of the numbers in the circles on each
side of it.
- Each circle can be used to get the sum of two different squares

- Find the right number of each circle wherein their sum corresponds to the numbers
inside the squares.
Devise a Plan
- Use variables to represent each numbers inside the circles and squares.

a+b= =a+c

b c
b+c=
 - We know that the numbers in squares are the sum of the two circles on each side,
therefore,
a + b = 41
a + c = 49
b + c = 36
- Then, try listing all the possible values which sum is 41, 49, and 36.
Carry out the Plan

a + b = 41 a + c = 49 c + b = 36
20 + 21 = 41 30 + 19 = 49 25 + 11 = 36
22 + 19 = 41 29 + 20 = 49 24 + 12 = 36
23 + 18 = 41 28 + 21 = 49 23 + 13 = 36
24 + 17 = 41 27 + 22 = 49 22 + 14 = 36
25 + 16 = 41 26 + 23 = 49 21 + 15 = 36
26 + 15 = 41 25 + 24 = 49 20 + 16 = 36
27 + 14 = 41
28 + 13 = 41
29 + 12 = 41
30 + 11 = 41
As you can see, there are addends used twice from different sum.
- 27, 14, and 22 are the numbers that we should put in the circles, we know that
27 + 14 = 41; 27 + 22 = 49; and 22 + 14 = 36. We can now substitute the values in
the circles.
27

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Look Back and Reflect

The totals in the squares are double the totals in the circles. I think this is because each
circle number is used twice to solve the puzzle.
a + b + c = 27 + 14 + 22 = 63
41 + 49 + 36 = 126
2 (a + b + c) = 41 + 49 + 36
2 (27 + 14 + 22) = 41 + 49 + 36
2 (63) = 126
126 = 126
 If the numbers in the squares are all even, the numbers in the circles are either all odd or
all even. If the numbers in the squares are all odd, I cannot solve the puzzle with whole numbers.
This is because an even number minus an odd number equals an odd number.
If you have two odd and one even in the squares then the numbers in the circles are
either two odd and one even or two even and one odd.

27 Red: even numbers

Blue: odd numbers
Numbers in circles: 27, 22, 14 (1 odd, 2 even)
Numbers in squares: 41, 49, 36 (2 odds, 1 even)

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